Firm Watch
Aug. 6, 2002
Marketers' Salaries Match Lawyers' Pay, Sometimes
If you've ever pondered trading your billable-hours requirements for a job in legal marketing, there's something you should know: The cut in pay may not be as big as you think.
According to a study by the Legal Marketing Association, some members of the profession can earn as much (or more) than the attorneys down the hall.
Of the 200 marketing employees who replied to the association's survey, the highest salary - $480,000 - rivals some partner-level compensations.
Beyond the cream-of-the-crop marketing gurus, average salaries hover near the $100,000 mark, with members of the Legal Marketing Association earning 15 percent more per year than nonmembers.
The study, "The Roles and Compensation and Benefits of the Law Firm Marketing Professionals," is available to members and nonmembers for use in negotiating salaries, pay raises and other contractual issues.
If you're considering a career change, here are some survey highlights that will prove helpful.
• The average salary of Legal Marketing Association members is $105,200, while nonmembers receive $91,200.
• Since 2000, the number of marketing professionals who have business development responsibilities has increased 50 percent.
• Eighty-six percent of legal marketing professionals provide marketing training to attorneys and 76 percent to other staff members (up from 72 and 52 percent, respectively).
• Firms have an average of 3.5 people in their marketing departments.
• Legal Marketing Association members responding to the survey tended to have higher titles, such as chief marketing officer or director, than nonmembers.
The Legal Marketing Association is a nonprofit organization, which provides professional support and education. It has 1,600 members nationwide and California chapters in the Bay Area, Orange County and Los Angeles.
Stefanie Knapp
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